Looking at Broadcast figures for the annual channel ratings performance I see why Channel 5 would want to cling to the "Big Brother" format. Its not provided anything new or different to their formulaic schedule but its keeping their share afloat which would otherwise be depressed without it. Unlike BBC one which actually gains viewers over the year, peaktime viewership between 7 and midnight lost 6.7% from 2013, down to 931,000 in 2014. these declines would be much higher without the Endemol reality show keeping these figures padded, so its still earning its place on Channel 5. A false economy perhaps to rely on it too much though as Channel 4 found to its cost.

UK TV Ratings ‏@TVRatingsUK 5m5 minutes ago
#TheApprentice pulled in 6.38m/28.3% last night, its highest rating since 12th November.

UK TV Ratings ‏@TVRatingsUK 1m1 minute ago
Excluding #TheApprentice, everything at 9pm was under 2m:
ITV - Hit and Run: 1.96m
BBC2 - #SecretsoftheCastle 1.64m
C4 - Comedy Awards 1.38m

Will Downes ‏@WillDownes 1m1 minute ago
327k for the excellent 'The Fight for Saturday Night' on BBC4 last night. #Obscure #TVRatings

Very good for The Apprentice, secretly hoping for 7m on Sunday but it's on for two hours as it includes You're Fired/Hired so probably being optimistic.

Shocking for ITV. That is awful, they may as well shut up shop between now and 1 January.

Shame The Fight for Saturday Night rated low, was a fantastic documentary.

Good figure for The Apprentice, but that what happens when ITV are sub 2m.

I can't remember how many comments and views the Broadchurch thread had, but you can't deny The Missing has struck a chord. Like the ITV drama its not dropped from the top of the TV forum and now has nearly 600,000 views.

Drama like The MIssing and Broadchurch are what makes UKTV great, and I hope both 2nd series have the same impact.

Much better for The Apprentice. But I suppose that's what happens when no other Channel is showing anything of note.

When Channel 4 had Big Brother they also used it to launch other shows like Lost for example. I don't think Channel 5 use it enough to boost the shows around it.

Apart from Text Santa and the Soaps, I don't think we have anything big on the channel until Christmas Day's Downton Abbey.

Both these shows remind me of Murder One which followed a murder case from beginning to the end. I wonder if ITV or the BBC would consider something similar here, considering how well a single case incident has worked for these two shows.

Coronation Street topped the midweek soap ratings (December 17) with the ongoing build-up to a dramatic Christmas for the Platts, overnight figures show.

7.36m (34.7%) watched at 7.30pm on ITV and 169k (0.8%) on +1 as David struggled to trust Kylie following the recent strains on their marriage.

Emmerdale attracted 6.08m (30.7%) at 7pm on ITV and 126k (0.6%) on +1 as Finn covered for Ross after the bad boy was arrested for the Home Farm raid.

Waterloo Road's latest run of episodes concluded with 2.74m (12.8%) at 8pm on BBC One as Justin's latest angry outburst left his family in tatters.

Hollyoaks claimed 915k (4.8%) at 6.30pm on Channel 4 as Nico discovered that Dodger is her father, while the aftermath brought 761k (3.9%) to E4's first look at 7pm and 225k (1.1%) to E4+1.

Home and Away managed 297k (4.2%) at 1.25pm and 576k (3.3%) at 6pm on Channel 5, while 5*'s first look followed with 440k (2.3%) at 6.30pm.

Elsewhere, Doctors was seen by 1.46m (21.9%) at 1.45pm on BBC One.

I imagine they're hoping Skyfall will be fairly sizable (5m+) in the ratings it pulls in, I certainly hope it is.

But ITV during this period are usually sub 3m on most days.

Chris Chibnall said Murder One was a big influence on him when he wrote Broadchurch. Broadchurch and The Missing are character studies as much as thrillers. The Missing's working title was Breakdown which is very apt when you watch what happened to peoplein it.

Showing Skyfall on Christmas Eve is a great idea, especially seeing as the BBC schedulers were on LSD when scheduling on that day.

Home and Away is quite an odd one isn't it? The rating for its main showing is pretty pisspoor, but when you take into account the other showings throughout the day it brings it pretty much into line with the other daytime soaps.

That's interesting to know about Chris Chibnall. I would certainly welcome more of this type of drama on TV.

I guess for every Bonekickers, we have a Silent Witness
and
for every Atlantis we have anything else on BBC One which is a drama

I think the quality of drama is better now than a few years ago. The absolute stinkers now are well made.

I remember the horror of Virtual Murder on BBC1.

http://youtu.be/FbWdSiXFjbs

Good figure for the Apprentice there.

I will have to check that one out when I get home

Do we only have one episode of Corrie on Friday - with the ITV Staff Christmas party on ? (Text Santa)

In case anyone wants to know the Comedy Awards results.

Jack Whitehall wins top comedy award again

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30511102

I know. Its either one of the biggest ever scheduling gaffes or an absolute genius move. I know which one my monies on!!

ITV should have saved their money and show Harry Potter on Christmas Eve.

Loving the Beeb One globe though. Wish Charlotte would bring it back. There are hints of the 1991 globe in the tree circle formation on the Christmas idents this year I think, it reminds me a bit of that particular graphic.

http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press...-second-series

Fantastic!! They must have high faith in this new series and must have interest from other broadcasters around the world. I imagine this is the main reason for its recommission before its even aired.

Mel & Sue will launch on ITV on Monday 12th January at 4pm. So the daytime schedule after 2pm stands at:

2pm Judge Rinder
3pm Tipping Point
4pm Mel & Sue
5pm The Chase

Pretty strong line-up, if Mel & Sue doesn't flop.

Tipping Point at 3pm? Thought that would stay at 4pm.

Is it a repeat run of TP? If so then it makes sense.